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Key Issues Identified during our November 2007 NCD Retreat
thanks to Ruthann DeJuliis for getting it all down in
cyberspace
1.
We need a vision developed and embraced by the entire community
Vision: unfocused, unavailable, unarticulated,
Need a collective vision, unrepresented; Need a collective vision;
Need an articulated vision
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Can We say we’ll be there tomorrow and mean it |
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Can We include everyone in our corporate
vision |
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Can We meet as a congregation for a retreat
focused on visioning on Gods vision for Skyline |
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Can We find a model for personal preparation
and for a group process |
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Can We communicate the vision to all |
2.
We need to raise awareness of value and method of personal devotions
Personal devotions: time/priority, lack of
tools/process, fearful of where it might lead, 2 minutes vs 4 hours corporate
worship vs. personal devotion
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Can We inspire each other to relate to God
daily |
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Can We inspire each other to make relating to
God a priority |
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Can We trust God is listening/welcoming us |
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Can We find models for devotions tailored to
different people and SUMC |
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Can We make time for devotions |
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Can We make personal devotions a habit |
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Can We trust God will bear fruit out of time
that seems wasted/lost |
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Can We wait on God? |
3. We Need to invest in relationships to
value conflict resolution, specific and general
Conflict:
superficiality & investment, fear, avoidance technical, lack of understanding
of model (Matt 18)
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Can We nurture
relations that make resolution of conflict easy |
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Can We trust each
other to not walk away |
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Can We forgive
those who have abandoned us, find another way to understand what they did |
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Can We model/ act
out conflict resolution more often in playful ways |
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Can We find the
balance between accountability, authority, and responsibility |
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Can We find the
balance between accountability and grace |
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Can We get smarter
about conflict resolution |
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Can We find the
strength not to make little conflicts huge |
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Can We encourage
each other back to conflict resolution via Matt 18 |
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Can We expect and
embrace |
4. We need a relational model of
inviting people to experience God
Evangelism: loaded
term. Need a model that is not knocking on doors or handing out tracks. Need a
relational model. Fear & Time
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Can We go out on a
limb and extend ourselves |
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Can We open
ourselves up to rejection |
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Can We overcome the
perception of the smug church |
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Can We prayerfully
expect people to be hungry for Christ |
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Can We reach, send,
equip and welcome |
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Can We each one
reach one |
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Can We share God’s
love heart for those who are hungry |
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Can We handle the
stampede |
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Can We welcome and
find a place for new people so that they can feel connected |
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Can We reignite our
own passion |
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Can We celebrate
the one |
5. We need to re-valuing social
connections at Skyline
Four spaces where
people connect: public, social, private, intimate spaces Without a social
connection, it is hard to get private or intimate connection (Search
to Belong: Rethinking Intimacy, Community, and Small Groups by Joseph Myers
is a good resource)
Spiritual
interconnectedness: small groups and fellowship. Experiencing the same things,
sharing a common experience. Validate each persons point of connection.
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Can We have more
and simpler parties |
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Can We just have
more social connection |
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Can We build a
culture that is safe |
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Can We celebrate
softball and bookclub as much as disciple bible study |
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Can We be symbiotic
enough to cross connect: fellowship is part of our spirituality |
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Can We begin to
build in more social opportunities |
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Can We take the
time for each other |
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Can We encourage
trust and depth of relationships |
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Can We create a
place for kids and youth to fellowship |
Thank you God for, that…
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Balance |
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We are all so
different |
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Building
relationships |
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Trust, God, each
other, the community |
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Personally
priority, personal habit, personal expression |
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Acceptance |
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Banishing fear,
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The treasure of
dreams that we are |
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Passion |
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Power when we feel
powerless |
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Time given filling
us when we’re empty |
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To share and feel
valued |
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